Table corner construction



June 15, 1954 BUNK 2,681,261

TABLE CORNER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 2, 1953 Kat INVENTOR.

QM, BY

mmdd JWMQ Arrows/545 Patented June 15, 1954 2,681,261 TABLE CORNER OONSTRUCTIGN Robert 0. Blink, Milw Mitchell Manufacturi Wis., a corporation of aukee, Wis, assignor to ng Company, Milwaukee,

Wisconsin Application October 2, 1953, Serial No. 383,849 7 Claims. (01. 311M105) This invention relates to improvements in table 7 and more particularly to a protective corner plate for the juxtaposed ends of the reinforcing rails or channels underlying a tabletop.

The tops of certain types of tables are mounted on and reinforced by metallic rails or channels extending along the margins of the undersur- With the above in mind it is a primary object of the present invention to provide corner plates for the angular meeting end portions of table top reinforcing channels which provide a smooth and flush construction, covering and protecting all exposed edges of the corner portions of the reinforcing channels.

A further object of the invention is to provide table undersurface corner members which completely fill and protect the spaces between the ends of juxtaposed reinforcing channels and prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign matter in such crevices.

Certain types of large folding tables which are used for banquets, groups and the like are normally stacked when not in use, and in stacked condition a surface portion of a superimposed table top may be stacked on the table-top channels of an underlying table. As these channels or rails, particularly at the corner portions, are normally rather narrow improper surface engagement and stacking may result.

With the foregoin in mind it is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide table top corner members having enlarged horizontal surface portions which provide support and bearing surfaces for the corners of a superimposed tahle-top when a plurality of tables are stacked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table corner construction which is relatively inexpensive and which can be applied to the underlying channels of the table top in a simple and expeditious manner, which is protective and neat and attractive in appearance, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

j With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improvedtable corner construction and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalent-s thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of the exterior corner portion of a table top and the angularly related channels underlying the same with an improved corner member applied to and protectively connecting the juxtaposed ends of the angularly related channels;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the corner portion of a table showing from the interior the improved corner plate and the manner in which it is applied to the juxtaposed ends of the reinforcing channels;

Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of a corner plate as applied to the juxtaposed ends of a pair of angularly related table top channels;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5.-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing only a fragmentary corner por- Large tables of the type under consideration, when not in use, are customarily collapsed and a number of the same may be stacked for storage purposes with surface portions of their tops in engagement. As will hereinafter appear shelf portions of the improved corner plates l0 provide bearing surfaces for the engaging portions of stacked table tops.

and bottom right and 9" which are vertical wall portion and top angularly directed flanges 9' directed inwardly relative to the margins of the table top. For securing the channels 3 to the table top, screws H are passed through the upper flanges a into the plies of the table top 8.

The function of each corner plate It is, among other things, to bridge the space between the adjacent ends of a pair of angularly related channels 9 and to cover and protect the sharp metallic edges of the channels 8 which would otherwise be exposed. From the drawing it will be apparent that each corner plate Iii, prefer ably of metal, includes a vertical curved wall portion 12 co-extensive in height with the height of the vertical walls of the channels 9 and positioned to extend between the juxtaposed ends of the vertical walls of a pair of adjacent channels 9. However, the curved front wall l2 of a corner plate has its extremities inwardly offset and in underlapping relation to the forward end portions of the vertical walls of the adjacent channels 9, such inwardly offset underlapping portions of the corner plate wall It being designated by the numerals it, and from the drawing it will appear that the corner plate it is anchored in its interposed position by having said offset portions [3 spot welded or otherwise secured to the contacting portion of the vertical walls of the channels 9. Additionally the bottom margin of the exposed wall portion {2 of a corner plate ii! has formed integral therewith and at right angles thereto, a substantially fan shaped, inwardly directed horizontal plate or shelf at whose inner curved margin, between the bottom flanges E" of the adjacent channels, carries an upwardly directed collar if. said fan shaped plate portion Hi is sufficiently broad to overlap and cover the adjacent portions of the bottom flanges S3 of the channels and to guard the edges thereof.

It will thus be seen that the formation of a corner plate it is such that its curved vertical wall portion l2 forms a flush arcuate continuation of the vertical wall portions of the adjacent channels Si and the inwardly ofiset portions l3 thereof cover the vertical edges of the channels and permit the rigid securement of a corner plate to the adjacent channels bridged thereby. Moreover the fan shaped horizontal plate or shelf portion M of a member It covers and protects other edge portions of the adjacent channels and the edge protection is further enhanced by the collar i5. 7

When a table top ll is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3 and it is desired to superimpose another similar table top thereon for stacking and storage purposes either with its top in engagement or the channels in engagement, it will be evident that the horizontal plate or shelf portions Hi of the various corner plate members It provide substantial supporting or bearing surfaces for the corner portions of a superimposed table top or the channels thereof.

7 The improved table corner constructions substantially augment and finish the appearance of a table, cover and protect the sharp edges of the table top reinforcing channels at the corners, and are otherwise well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as theinvention is:

1. In a table top construction, a rectangular top member, channels secured to and underlying the marginal undersurface portions of the top, each right angularly related pair of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced relation at corner portions of the top member, and a corner plate interposed between the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each corner plate having a curved, vertical outer wall inwardly offset at its outer ends and in underlapping relationship to r the end portions of the adjacent channels, the

latter being secured thereto, each corner plate having a horizontal shelf integral with and projecting inwardly from the lower edge of its curved vertical wall.

In a table top construction, a rectangular top member, flanged channels secured to and underlying the marginal undersuriac portions of the top, the flanges of said channels being horizontally inwardly directed, each right angularly related pair of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced relation at corner portions of the top member, and a corner plate interposed between the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each corner plate having a curved, vertical outer wall inwardly offset at its outer ends and in underlapping attached relationship to the end portions of the adjacent channels and positioned between the flanges of each channel, each corner plate having a horizontal shelf integral with and projecting inwardly from the lower edge of its curved vertical wall.

3. In a table top construction, a rectangular top member, metallic channels secured to and underlying the marginal undersurface portions of the top, each channel including inwardly directed top and bottom flanges and an interposed vertical wall, each right angularly related pair of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced relation at corner portions of the and a metallic corner plate interposed between the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each corner plate being secured to the adjacent channels and having a curved, vertical outer wall engaging the ends of the vertical walls of the channels and an integral horizontal bottom shelf extending over exposed portions of the bottom flanges of the channels.

4. In a table top construction, a top member having right angularly related margins, channels secured to and underlying said marginal undersurface portions of the top, each right angularly related pair of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced relation at corner portions of the top member, and a corner plate interposed between the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each corner plate having a curved, vertical outer wall with end portions thereof in lapped relationship to the end portions of the adjacent channels, each corner plate having a lower horizontal fanshap-ed shelf integral with and projecting inwardly from the lower edge of its curved vertical wall and engaging portions of the channels.

5. In a table top construction, a rectangular top member, channels having top and bottom flanges secured to and underlying the marginal undersurface portions of the top, each right angularly related pair of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced relation at corner portions of the top member, and a corner plate interposed between the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each corner plate having a vertical outer wall inwardly ofiset at its outer ends and in underlapping attached relationship to the end portions of the adjacent channels and positioned between the flanges of each channel, each corner plate having a horizontal shelf integral with and projecting inwardly from the lower edge of its vertical wall, the inner edge portion of each shelf carrying an upstanding collar.

top member,

of the top, each channel including inwardly dicurved, vertical outer Wall with end portions rected top and bottom flanges and an interposed 5 thereof in lapped relationship to the end porvertical wall, each right angularly related pair tions of the adjacent channels, each corner plate of channels having its adjacent ends in spaced having a lower horizontal fan-shaped shelf inrelation at corner portions of the top member, tegral with and projecting inwardly from the the spaced ends of each pair of channels, each 10 ing portions of the channels and also having a corner plate being secured to the adjacent chancollar portion extending between portions of the nels and having a vertical outer wall engaging channels.

and an integral inwardly directed horizontal References Cited in the file of this patent bottom shelf extending over exposed portions of 5 the bottom flanges of the channels, and a collar UNITED STATES PATENTS of the shelf between the bottom flanges 0f the 2 Um i Sept f adlacentchanne 1,542,138 Hunter June 16, 1925 7. In a table top construction, a top member 20 1 551 714 Tuschkan Sept 1 1925 having light angulaily related margins metallic 1664292 Gloekler fir 1928 channels secured to and underlying said marginal undersurface portions of the top, each gfigfigg 'gi 2 3 right angularly related pair of channels having 

